Double Dragontag:,2006:/1032006-10-02T16:19:16ZThe land of the little sospanMovable Type 3.31EDF CUPtag:doubledragon.welshblogs.co.uk,2006://103.22882006-10-02T15:22:15Z2006-10-02T16:19:16ZSo the English mighty Guinness big boys came down to stradey...and lost!! Ok, so we played against the newly promoted Quins, who themselves are struggling with the pace and intensity of the Guinness premier league, with 4 played - 4...Andrew Young
So the English mighty Guinness big boys came down to stradey...and lost!!
Ok, so we played against the newly promoted Quins, who themselves are struggling with the pace and intensity of the Guinness premier league, with 4 played - 4 lost, and to give the Quins their credit, they are playing in a far tougher league (at the moment), but the Scarlets made the most of their home advantage to get the maximum points on offer with 4 trys in the game.
The tougher test will come when we have to go up to the North East and play Newcastle away.
The Scarlets have won 2 out of their 3 away games so far this year, wins coming against the Dragons and Connacht (the one defeat so far this year was against Ulster). However the game this Friday on English soil will probably be quite a different test.
The Scarlets yesterday tried hard to play the type of rugby which killed off Leinster in the first half last week, but too many handling errors and 'back door' attempts to move the ball, caused the Scarlets to stutter through the game. The Scarlets have a crucial away game this Friday up in Newcastle before the deciding away game to the Sale Sharks on the first weekend in December. I have no doubt that the Sacrlets have enough pace and ability to win up in Kingston Park Stadium this Friday, but the Scarlets as Gwyn Jones puts it, must make the correct decisions when deciding to off-load or go to ground. I think it is fair to expect a tight game form Newcastle on Friday, as their heavy pack will look to slow it down and prevent our backs from getting any ball.
Craig Dunlea, who deservedly had the man-of-the match award yesterday, has improved significantly since his first match (remember his early substitution against the Dragons), and will be leading the charge with the Scralets pack this Friday. If Easterby, Popham, Afeaki and chums can secure enough ball then Peel (being fit), Stephen and the King should be able to secure the first away win of the season on English Soil - and what good timing that would be, as the Scarlets kick of their first Heineken game of the year away to London Irish in Reading.
Beer and his role in the gametag:doubledragon.welshblogs.co.uk,2006://103.21312006-09-18T19:24:07Z2006-09-18T20:25:21ZThe Magners League, the Guiness Premiership, the Heineken Cup and Brains. As a fan of Rugby it sadens me to see the effect Beer has had on the game. Just the other day I took too long deciding which one...Andrew Young
The Magners League, the Guiness Premiership, the Heineken Cup and Brains. As a fan of Rugby it sadens me to see the effect Beer has had on the game. Just the other day I took too long deciding which one of these 'Rugby beers' would accompany me through the Dragons/Scarlets match - the result...I missed the first 15 minutes of the match trying to decide then pour the perfect pint!!
Beer to rugby is like cake to a fat girl - inseperable. We love it (Beer), our boys in Red wear the Brains sponsor with pride, our Celtic league finally has a sponsor - the Irish Magners cider, we have the European Heineken Cup coming soon (the best Rugby club competion in the world) and our friends over the border play in a league sponsored by the black stuff. Is it no wonder that we in Wales are part of a 'booze culture' ?
It got me thinking, which one out these 4 'Rugby beers' is the nation's favourite when it comes to match day? Is it Magners with Ice? - the new kid on the block. Is it Guniness? - an old favourite amongst rugby fans, especially when watching the men in green, Heineken? - (do you recall those sexy ladies who carry the beer around on thier backs on match day?) or the dark stuff from our Capital - Brains?
I have personal experience of all 4 (good & bad!!), some are quite hazy, and some should never be repeated again - but in the interest of science and as a public service, I will taste test each of these 4 'Rugby beers' during match day between now and the end of the Rugby World Cup 2007 and return with my findings. Please pass on your comments of these 4 'Rugby beers', and put forward any other contenders for.........'The Nations Favourite Match Day Beer!!!'
Iechyd da!
Winning on the road...tag:doubledragon.welshblogs.co.uk,2006://103.20852006-09-15T11:19:50Z2006-09-15T11:53:20ZThe Scarlets finally won a game on the road! The intensity of the Dragons in Rodney Parade in the first half was pretty firece - and at half time I was wondering how we were going to step up to...Andrew Young
The Scarlets finally won a game on the road! The intensity of the Dragons in Rodney Parade in the first half was pretty firece - and at half time I was wondering how we were going to step up to this onslaught. However Class is permenant and the King had arrived - his dancing feet allowed the Scarlets' back line to open up.
It is this type of composure and ability that the Sacrlets will rely on when playing away from the politcal Stradey hot pot.
Tonight the Scarlets are relying on their youth players Daniel, Thomas and Evans to bring home the goods, whilst a very classy bench looks on. Phil Davies is perhaps gambling a bit on his young guns, with a tough away match in Connaucht, but with 3 games in 8 days, and with the presence of Daffayd James and Stephen Jones, Phil has to manage his team accordingly.
And finally our Celtic league has a sponsor - and what a sponsor!?! I enjoyed its company last night - chilled over ice in a long glass.....its a change from a pint of Foel!